The Partnering Institutions

The UNSaFE project brings together world-class expertise in trace chemical analysis (Imperial College London), ecotoxicology/toxicology (Brunel University & King's College London), modelling (UKCEH & Imperial College London), and risk assessment (JNCC) from internationally recognized institutions to understand the sources, risks, and effects of PFAS on wildlife in UK waters.

Imperial is ranked #2 globally (QS), with more 4* “world-leading” research than any UK university (94 %). In REF2021, Imperial ranked 1st for research environment, research outputs and research impact. LB’s lab is fully equipped with a (HR)MS suite containing 4xLC-triple quadrupole/QTOF-MS instruments. Large reference standard mixtures exist for >12,000 compounds. We house 3D-printers for 3D-PSD manufacture. Validated analytical methods exist for (in)vertebrate extraction, passive sampling and trace PFAS analysis. Multi-disciplinary training for all UNSaFE staff exists at through the MRC Centre for Environment and Health. 

Brunel is a Top-40 research intensive university (81% world-leading/internationally excellent research in REF2021). Its world-leading reputation for chemical mixture ERA was recognised with a Queen's Anniversary Prize. Brunel established The Centre for Pollution Research and Policy in 2020 to advance efforts for environment and human health protection from pollution. Its labs had recent investment of £2.5M and the analytical facility contains a Waters Xevo-G2-XS (LC-HRMS) and Agilent 1260-Sciex API5000 for target/NTA. 

The King’s Institute of Pharmaceutical Science (IPS) ranked 1st for proportion of world leading (4*) research and papers, 4* impact, power under REF2021 UoA3. Toxicology and the safe chemicals use are core areas, with commitment to grow adoption of NAMs across research and regulatory sectors. Our research team will have access to cutting edge facilities for high-content imaging, and full access to the Hub for Applied Bioinformatics, which is instrumental for delivery of this high-quality high-impact project. 

UK CEH is globally-leading in terrestrial and freshwater sciences research, producing research of world-leading and internationally excellent quality, enabling outstanding impact (77% at 3/4*, REF2021; Athena Swan Bronze; and Investors in People awards), focused on growing EEDI and staff development programmes, including bespoke training courses for ecotoxicology accessible to all Early-Stage Researchers in UNSaFE. We have State–of-theart facilities for ecotoxicological testing and effects measurement, and access to 23 sites/facilities in the UKCEH River Thames Initiative.

JNCC closely collaborates with Defra and its other agencies, the devolved administrations, regulators and research bodies, providing UNSaFE an environment to really increase impact. JNCC’s Environmental Pollution Team drive “The System Level Indicator project”, a multi-year project (for Defra) aimed to address gaps in understanding and develop a method for interpreting changes seen in the environment, across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitats, from chemical exposure.